Radio New Zealand
April 25 2010

US President Barack Obama has marked the 95th anniversary of the
massacre of Armenians by Turkish forces in World War I, calling it one
of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.

In a statement issued by the White House, Mr Obama said 1.5 million
Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final days
of the Ottoman Empire.

The president said the 1915 massacre must not be repeated, but did not
refer to a debate over whether Turkey was responsible.

Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Washington in March after a House of
Representatives committee voted on a nonbinding "genocide" resolution
over the killings.

A deal between Turkey and Armenia to establish diplomatic ties and
reopen their border collapsed last week.

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